AlzInColor

08/27/2026

What an incredible day of connection and conversation at the 2026 Black Health Matters Harlem Health Summit & Expo! 💜🧠

It was an honor for Kathryn Boxill, Co-Founder of AlzInColor, to attend and exhibit alongside community members committed to better health and well-being.

From morning to afternoon, our AlzInColor table stayed busy with conversations about brain health, Alzheimer’s disease, caregiving, and the experiences that shape how we care for ourselves and our loved ones.

What stayed with us most was the vulnerability and openness of those who shared their stories.

Throughout the day, a few messages came through loud and clear:

💜 Early detection matters. If you or someone you love notices changes in memory or thinking, start the conversation with a healthcare provider.

💜 Caregivers need care, too. Seeking education, resources, and support and making time for their own health is an important part of the caregiving journey.

💜 Brain health is part of overall health. The choices we make today can help support our brain health throughout our lives.

We hope everyone we met left feeling a little more informed, encouraged, and empowered to take action for themselves and their families.

Thank you to Roslyn Y. Daniels, Dedra Tate, Jeanine Tate, and the entire Black Health Matters team for creating a free and accessible space where the community and over 1,500 attendees could connect with health information, screenings, experts, and resources.

And a special thank you to Dereine Coleman for bringing your energy and enthusiasm to the AlzInColor table! 💜

🔗 Learn more about Black Health Matters: https://blackhealthmatters.com/

🔗 Learn more and explore brain health resources and community stories at AlzInColor.com

08/26/2026

💜 “This is the longest marathon you never trained for.” – Janay "J Smiles" Smith

When Janay became a caregiver for her mother living with Alzheimer’s disease, everything changed, including how she viewed her own brain health and well-being.

In our recent conversation at the ALTER Dementia Summit, Janay shares the emotional realities of caregiving, the warning signs her family didn’t recognize, and why caring for yourself is just as important as caring for someone you love.

As a comedian, patient advocate, founder of Parenting UP, and AlzInColor Community Advisory Board member, Janay brings humor, honesty, and hope to a journey so many families understand.

🎥 Watch Janay’s story:
https://youtu.be/mT0sZlZFw5Q

Then continue the conversation with us LIVE! 💜

Join Janay and AlzInColor for “Caregiving with Purpose, Hope, and Humor” as we explore practical caregiving strategies, resilience, self-care, finding your own purpose, and how humor can help along the journey.

🗓️ Thursday, August 27
⏰ 7:00–8:00 PM ET
👉🏽 Register: https://bit.ly/AlzInColorWebinar08272026

Know a caregiver who could use support, practical resources, and maybe a few well-deserved laughs? Tag them or share this post.

08/25/2026

⏳ Caregivers, this conversation is for you.

Join AlzInColor and featured speaker 🎙️ Janay JSmiles Smith of Parenting UP:

"Caregiving with Purpose, Hope, and Humor"

Discover practical caregiving strategies, hear an inspiring personal story, and learn how purpose, advocacy, and even laughter can help you care for yourself while caring for someone you love.

🗓️ Thursday, August 27, 2026
⏰ 7:00–8:00 PM EDT

👉🏽 Register today and share with a caregiver, friend, or family member:
https://bit.ly/AlzInColorWebinar08272026

Because caregivers are deserving of support, purpose, hope, and a reason to smile. Let's continue to "Raise the Volume" together.

08/24/2026

💜 "To be healthy, it's not just about our individual choices." — Mayra Sainz, PhD

Brain health isn't something we achieve alone.

Dr. Mayra Sainz reminds us that improving brain health requires support at every level—from our families and friends to our faith communities, healthcare systems, and the policies that shape access to care and resources.

For Latino communities and beyond, creating healthier futures means working together, holding one another accountable, and building environments where people have the support they need to thrive.

🎥 Watch Dr. Sainz’s full conversation to learn why improving brain health is a shared responsibility and how collaboration can help strengthen our communities. https://youtu.be/ptC-SojD4Q8

🔗 For brain health resources, educational tools, and more inspiring stories—or to share your own—visit: https://www.alzincolor.com/

08/20/2026

💜 Caregivers spend so much time caring for others, but who's caring for them?

Join AlzInColor for:
"Caregiving with Purpose, Hope, and Humor"

During this webinar, you'll:

💡 DISCOVER practical strategies for navigating the caregiving journey
🌱 LEARN how purpose, advocacy, and hope can build resilience
❤️ PRIORITIZE your own well-being while caring for others
🤝 GAIN encouragement, resources, and community

Featuring Janay "J Smiles" Smith, whose personal caregiving journey reminds us that even during life's hardest moments, hope, purpose, and laughter can still be found.

🗓️ Thursday, August 27, 2026
⏰ 7:00–8:00 PM EDT

👉🏽 Join the conversation and register today:
https://bit.ly/AlzInColorWebinar08272026

Tag a caregiver who could use a little encouragement—and maybe a good laugh.

08/18/2026

The future of Alzheimer's care depends on the decisions we make today.

As Chair of the National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA) Advisory Council and Secretary of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, Michelle Branham joined fellow council members in developing recommendations to help shape the next chapter of Alzheimer's policy in the United States.

Featured in Solving Alzheimer's, Charting a Course to Improve Care Across America outlines an actionable roadmap for HHS, CMS, the FDA, and Congress to strengthen Alzheimer's prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, care, and support.

At AlzInColor, we're committed to advancing equitable policies that improve brain health and Alzheimer's outcomes for Black and Latino communities. Efforts like these help move us closer to a future where everyone has access to timely diagnosis, quality care, and the resources they need.

Thank you Secretary Branham for your leadership and dedication.

📖 Read the full article: https://solvingalzheimers.substack.com/p/charting-a-course-to-improve-care-across-america

As Florida's Secretary of Elder Affairs and Chair of the Federal Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s, I helped finalize the new recommendations for our national strategy — now the hard work begins.

08/14/2026

💜 Caregiving can change your life, but it can also reveal strength you never knew you had.

We're two weeks away from:
"Caregiving with Purpose, Hope, and Humor"

Join AlzInColor for an uplifting conversation featuring:

🎙️ Janay "J Smiles" Smith
Caregiver • Patient Advocate • Comedian
Founder, Parenting UP!
AlzInColor Community Advisory Board Member

After the sudden loss of her father and her mother's Alzheimer's diagnosis, Janay became her mother's full-time caregiver. Through comedy, she found healing, purpose, and a powerful voice for caregivers everywhere.

During this session, Janay will share practical caregiving tips, personal experiences, and how advocacy, purpose, and humor have helped her navigate the caregiving journey.

🗓️ Thursday, August 27, 2026
⏰ 7:00–8:00 PM EDT

👉🏽 Save your spot and invite caregivers, family, and friends:
https://bit.ly/AlzInColorWebinar08272026

Let's continue to "Raise the Volume" for caregivers and families affected by Alzheimer's disease.

08/14/2026

Brain health starts with the choices we make today. 🧠 And the good news is that small, consistent choices often make the biggest difference.

What we eat, how we move, how we rest, and how we manage stress all play a role over time. These habits add up, especially when life is already full.
This simple “recipe” breaks it down in a way that’s easy to start. No pressure. Just a place to begin.

Take a look:https://www.alz.org/getmedia/5d1826c1-1ddd-49ca-badc-44deed8eee40/uspointerbrainhealthrecipe.pdf

08/11/2026

💜 “The first thing to do is breathe, take some time, and then start to strategize about what’s coming next.” — Dr. Glenna Brewster Glasgow

Becoming a caregiver for someone living with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia can feel overwhelming. Dr. Glenna Brewster reminds caregivers that they do not have to navigate the journey alone. Identify the people and resources who will be part of your caregiving village, such as healthcare providers, social workers, faith leaders, friends, and local aging organizations. Caregiving should not be done alone, and building a trusted support network can help you find answers, access resources, and manage the journey.

In this AlzInColor Community Conversation, Dr. Brewster shares practical guidance on recognizing dementia-related behaviors, finding trusted people and community resources, and making time to care for your own health. She also discusses how sleep, nutrition, and physical activity can support brain health—and why small, consistent steps can make a meaningful difference.

Most importantly, Dr. Brewster encourages families to focus on what a person living with dementia can still do. By supporting their abilities, participation, and independence, we help preserve their personhood and quality of life.

🎥 Watch Dr. Brewster’s full powerful AlzInColor conversation about caregiving, brain health, self-care, and building a supportive village. https://youtu.be/8Q4V6D3R1OQ

🔗 For brain health resources, educational tools, and more inspiring stories—or to share your own—visit: https://www.alzincolor.com/

08/10/2026

During the 54th Annual National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) Institute and Conference, we had the privilege of hearing from our co-presenter Michelle Jackson, PhD, ANP-BC, PMHNP-BC, a leader with the Black Women: Inflammation and Tau Study (BWITS) at UC San Diego.

In this video, Dr. Jackson shares an important reminder: brain health starts with managing the health conditions we can influence. Research from the BWITS program highlights that hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, and sleep apnea are among the most studied, modifiable risk factors associated with Alzheimer's disease in the BWITS cohort.

Understanding and addressing these conditions early can help support lifelong brain health and encourage important conversations with your healthcare provider.

Together, we can continue to Raise the Volume on brain health through education, prevention, and early action.

🔗 Learn more about BWITS: https://www.b-wits.org/

🔗 Learn more about the NBNA at https://nbna.org/